Radial wedge joint



May 11, 1965 J. A. MYERS ETAL 3,183,024 RADIAL wEDGE JOINT Filed March15, 1962 le I6 Q22 @32 FIG. 3.

le 2s 4 Fm. 2.

FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4.

lNvENToRs.

JACK A. MYERS LANGTHORNE P. SYKES BY United States: Patent O 3,183,024RADIAL WEDGE JNT Jack A. Myers, Ridgecrest, and Langthorne I. Sykes,Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignors to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Mar. 13, 1962, Ser. No.179,50) 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-330) (Granted under Title 3S, U.S. Code(1952), sec. 266) 3,l33,024 VPatented fMay l1, 1965 ice .diameter as theinside diameter of tube 12b and over which an end portion of tube .12bmay slideably telescope. An annular dovetail surface 20 joins the innerend of surface 18 and .the outside surface of tube 12a, this surfacebein-g frusto-conioal, the center 22 of the cone being on the tube axisat a point inwardly of its end. Tube 12b is provided with a liketruste-conical end suri tace 24 which mates with surface 20.

section, and a tail section. Similarly, a torpedo hull may compriseseveral sections whichcarry various components,

such as sonic homing apparatus, explosive pay loads, propulsionapparatus and guidance and control devices. It is a general requirementthat such a joint occupy as little space as possible to thus providemaxim-urn internal volume for accommodating various components. Ideally,the strength of the joint, to resist loadings to which it .is subjected,such as bending stresses and the likev .transmitted across the joint,should be equal to the strength of the tube between the joints. Such.type of joint would thus permit an assemblage of sections of uniformstrength throughout their length and destructive loading could causefai-lure at any .point along the length of the assemblage. While suchideal may be feasible, it probably would -be at the expense offexcessive bulkk and Weight of the joint, complexity, excessive costs offabrication, and other undesirable aspects. lProbably in most instancesthe practical joint thus represents some sort of a departure orcompromise from the ideal but-is still adequate to perform its intendedfunctions.

Among the object of this invention are the provision oi a detachablejoint for tubes which is simpl-ied in construction, may be moreeconomically fabricated, occupies a minimum of space While :beingadequate in strength for its intended purpose.

Further objects, advantages, and salient features will become moreapparent from a consideration of the description to follow, the appendedclaims, andthe accompanying drawing,'in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a rocket employing the subject of theinvention;A

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation and longitudinalsection taken Ion line 2 2, FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail of the portion indicated by arrow 3, jFIG.2; j

PIG. 3A is an alternative form of the detail shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, FG. 2. Referring now to thedrawing, FIG. l depicts an ordnace device 19, such as a rocket, whichcomprises an outer tube 12 formed from a plurality otl axially alignedportions 12a, 12b which are detachably connected together by a joint 14,representative of a plurality of such joints which may be axially spacedalong tube 12, as desired. As best shown inv lil-GS. 2 to 4, tubes 12a,.12b are of the same outer and inner diameters, tube 12a having anintegral thickened projection 16 having an outer cylindrical surfaceI18. which is of substantially the same Projection .16 is provided witha plurality oi equi-angularly spaced tapped lapertures 26, illustratedas eight in numbeneach of which receives a threaded screw 28 having anouter irusto conical surface 30. Any suitable means, accessible from theoutside of the tubes, such as a socket Wrench recess 32, may be employedWithin each lscrew for rotating it. Tube .12b is provided with trust-oconical apertures 34 into the outer ends of the screws seat. The latterapertures are preferably spaced from the end of tube 12b such thattightening ot the screws produces a longitudinal wedging effect, forcinginnato-conical end 24 tightly in engagement with flustoconical surface20. As will be apparent, the radial outward `force of each screw tendsto expand tube 12b but since the screws are also wedging tube 12b towardtube 12a .the trusts-conical surface .24, acting on surface 2li, ends tocontract' the outermost edge of tube 12b, thus providing an extremelytight joint which may readily transmit orces, such as bending stresses,from one tube section to another. When it is desired to disconnect therjoint the screws are rotated until their outerends are slightly belowthe inside diameter of tube 12b, after which tube 12b may lbe axiallyremoved 4from the tube 12a.

The threads employed on screws 28 may be either right or left hand,depending upon which direction of rotation is desired. To ensureregistry of the tubes -in only one position of assembly, tube 12b may beprovided with a pin 36 which engages an open end slot 38 in projection16. FIG. 3A illustrates .an alternative form of the invention whereinone or more O-rings 40 may be employed with project-ion .16 to seal thejoint against leakage of liuid, either gas or liquid. Wheretubes 12a,12b, dorm parts of a torpedo hull such seal `is essential to prevent seawater from entering the inside ot the hull.

Gbviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is theretore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is: j

l. Apparatus tor detachably connecting together in axial alignment lirstand second cylindrical tubes of the same outer diameters, comprising incombination;

(a) a projection disposed on an end of the rst tube having a cylindricalouter surface of substantially the same diameter as .the inside diameterof the second tube and adapted to telescope into an end of said secondtube,

(b) a conical surface adjacent said projection extending between theinner end of said cylindrical outer surface and the outside surface ofsaid iirsft tube, the apex of the conical sur-face being disposed on theVaxis of the iirst .tube inwardly of the end of the rst tube,

(c) said second tube having a conical end surface extending between itsinner and outer surfaces adapted to mate in abutting relation with thetirs-t named conical surta-ce,

(d) a plurality of angularly spaced rotatable screw members threadedlyengaging said projection and having conical cuter ends,

(e) a plurality of mating conical apertures extending through saidsecond tube and into which said conical ends are adapted to extend whensaid screw members are moved radially outward,

(f) the axes of said recesses and conical ends being slightly spaced sothat after said conical ends are in partial engagement -with saidconical apertures and are tightened therein, said tubular members aredrawn axially together lwith the conical end of the second ltube inabutting relation to said first named conical surface.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said rotatable screwmembers threadedly engage said projection in blind apertures which limitinward movement of the screw members but permit the screw members to bedisposed entirely within the blind apertures, whereby the second tubemay be telescoped over and past the onter surfaces of the screw members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Coleman 285-332Pullman 285-404 Cargile 285-334 Hudson 285-374 Woods 285-33() Suderow285-308 Korn 285-330 Chaney. Nepple 102-56 France.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. THOMAS F. CALLAGHAN, Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING TOGETHER IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT FIRSTAND SECOND CYLINDRICAL TUBES OF THE SAME OUTER DIAMETERS, COMPRISING INCOMBINATION; (A) A PROJECTION DISPOSED ON AN END OF THE FIRST TUBEHAVING A CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER ASTHE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE SECOND TUBE AND ADAPTED TO TELESCOPE INTO ANEND OF SAID SECOND TUBE, (B) A CONICAL SURFACE ADJACENT SAID PROJECTIONEXTENDING BETWEEN THE INNER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE ANDTHE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST TUBE, THE APEX OF THE CONICAL SURFACEBEING DISPOSED ON THE AXIS OF THE FIRST TUBE INWARDLY OF THE END OF THEFIRST TUBE, (C) SAID SECOND TUBE HAVING A CONICAL END SURFACE EXTENDINGBETWEEN ITS INNER AND OUTER SURFACES ADAPTED TO MATE IN ABUTTINGRELATION WITH THE FIRST NAMED CONICAL SURFACE, (D) A PLURALITY OFANGULARLY SPACED ROTATABLE SCREW MEMBERS THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAIDPROJECTION AND HAVING CONICAL OUTER ENDS, (E) A PLURALITY OF MATINGCONICAL APERTURES EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SECOND TUBE AND INTO WHICH SAIDCONICAL ENDS ARE ADAPTED TO EXTEND WHEN SAID SCREW MEMBERS ARE MOVEDRADIALLY OUTWARD, (F) THE AXES OF SAID RECESSES AND CONICAL ENDS BEINGSLIGHTLY SPACED SO THAT AFTER SAID CONICAL ENDS ARE IN PARTIALENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONICAL APERTURES AND ARE TIGHTENED THEREIN, SAIDTUBULAR MEMBERS ARE DRAWN AXIALLY TOGETHER WITH THE CONICAL END OF THESECOND TUBE IN ABUTTING RELATION TO SAID FIRST NAMED CONICAL SURFACE.